The Mount Si girls basketball team saw highs and lows last Tuesday, Feb. 22, as they hosted a first-round loser-out game in the SeaKing District Tournament.
The Wildcats struggled in the first half but mounted a spirited rally in the second half. When all was said and done, that push was not enough, and the season ended for the Mount Si girls.
Despite a solid 13-point effort from Sarah McDonald, the Wildcats weren’t able to get much going especially from outside as they fell to the Nathan Hale Raiders, 61-53. Gabby Evans led the way for Hale with a game-high 26 points.
Evans and Kaylin Hudson, the Raiders’ top two scorers, dominated in the first quarter for Hale as the Raiders worked to gain control of the proceedings. Hale did just that in the second frame, as Evans scored 15 points in that quarter alone. The Raiders went into halftime up 35-21, and that left Mount Si coach Megan Botulinski frustrated.
“We were prepared, we knew what to expect and we went out there and still played like we didn’t know what was going on,” Botulinski said.
After a slow start to open the second half, the Wildcats began to pick things up. A three-point play by junior Hailey Eddings (a basket followed by a free throw as she was fouled on the shot attempt) set up the rally, which pulled Mount Si to within eight points of the lead at the end of three quarters, 45-37 in favor of Hale.
The Wildcats continued to charge toward the lead to start the fourth, with a three-point shot from senior Karly Thompson setting things in motion. Thompson’s three was one of only a few on the game, and their struggles from outside proved to be a key factor down the stretch. Mount Si finished 4-22 from beyond the arc.
The Wildcats got to within two at 52-50 and were on the verge of tying the game when, with about a minute left in regulation, a shot attempt by Jori Braun fell short, and the Raiders pulled away from there. Hudson finished with 10 points despite being in foul trouble for much of the contest to pace Hale.
Eddings, too, was in foul trouble for most of the game, but she added nine to aid the Mount Si cause. The junior will remember this season.
“I’m going to remember how far she (Botulinski) brought us and how much she helped us improve,” Eddings said.
The Wildcats finished 13-11 on the season, and will seek this offseason to fill a couple of big holes left by graduation losses of post Traci Nelson and leader Karly Thompson. Botulinski expects to do a lot this offseason.
“I want to get the girls into some clinics in the offseason,” the coach said. “I’ll have my hands on them this summer, so we’ll be able to work on some of the fundamentals and even more team unity.”
“We’re going to come out even harder,” Eddings said. “We’re going to come out fresh, we’re going to work hard (this) off season and we’re going to have another great year.”
